How To Plant & Maintain A Container Garden

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Gardening has endless benefits. However, there are many homes that pose challenges for gardening success. A small yard, unsuitable land or changing weather conditions can make it difficult to exercise your green thumb. If you’re looking to garden but are uncertain you have what you need to be successful, don’t fear.

Container gardening is a popular way to grow various plants without sacrificing valuable space in your backyard. It’s a great place to start if you’re new to the hobby, as you can control the variables much easier than starting from the ground. Here’s a few tips on how you can start and maintain a beautiful container garden.

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Choosing The Right Container

Before choosing your plants, the first step of any garden maintenance is giving them a proper place to grow and thrive. When it comes to container gardening, there are so many options that can help style your yard and home the way you’d like. The most important consideration is finding a container that has proper drainage. The larger the plant or herb you intend on growing, the larger container you will need. If the container is too small, roots can’t expand and your plant will likely die.

You’ll also want to consider the style of your home or yard to incorporate the design of the container. Remember, the container design becomes a part of the overall décor. A look that mixes and matches a few different styles of containers is a great way to incorporate various designs, without looking tacky. Remember to set a schedule for watering your container garden as they need it regularly and often.

Container Gardening For Every Season

While traditional gardens die in the cold weather, it’s possible to keep container gardens alive year-round. There are typically two ways to go about all-season container gardens. One way is to grow and store your plant indoors and ensure it gets plenty of sunlight and water. This works best with herbs and leafy plants, not only adding décor to your home but enhancing the air quality. A windowsill in the kitchen is a great place for this.

A second way is to change out the plants every season to fit the weather. Start with bulbs and bright color flowers to welcome the spring and adding foliage and bright, tropical flowers in the summer. As the cool weather approaches, change to ornamental grasses and foliage. During the winter months, cold-hardy plants like ferns and dogwood look beautiful in the snow when cared for properly. By rotating your plants, you keep your container garden alive year-round for everyone to see.

Container Vegetable Gardening

For small, urban backyards, growing your own food might seem impossible. But vegetable container gardens make it easy to grow fresh produce from your porch or deck. Instead of focusing on the décor of the container, you’ll want to plant your vegetable garden in a large container so your plant has room to grow. Mulch is another addition you’ll need to your container vegetable garden to help keep moisture in the dirt. Here are some vegetables that are best suited for your container garden:

Green Onions

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Spinach

Kale

Peppers

Cucumbers

Container Herb Garden

Can you imagine having fresh herbs for soups and stews during the winter? This is possible by utilizing containers for your herb garden. Small and versatile, herbs grow well on windowsills or outdoors. I love the basil plant I keep in my kitchen. It’s perfect for adding fresh flavor to pasta quickly and easily. The key to a successful container herb garden, however, is sunlight. Most need full sun to thrive. Here are a few ideas for herbs to grow in your container garden, indoors or out:

Chives

Rosemary

Basil

Thyme

Mint

Oregano

Lavender

Succulent Container Gardens

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The trendiest choice for your container garden is succulents. If you’re struggling on your green thumb, succulents will give you the garden you love with much less risk. These small plants are hardy and great for containers of any size, both indoors and out. Mix and match your favorites to create a container garden look unique to your taste. They also need less water than most. Be sure to fill the bottom of your container with gravel before potting soil, to help drainage.

Container Gardening For Privacy

If you’re yard lacks a proper fence but you long for a bit of privacy, consider utilizing containers to create a natural barrier with long, ornamental grasses and small evergreens. You’ll need larger containers for this and works best if placed along a walkway or solid ground. While not a long-term solution, it could significantly cut down on noise and partial screening to the view of your property.

Conclusion

If you have a knack for gardening or simply want to learn more, a container garden is the perfect way to do so. You can enhance your yard or living space simply by incorporating a few container plants into your décor.